Setting
and Accommodations
-- San Fedele - A renovated monastery where 13th century architecture
meets modern luxury --
View of the San Fedele monastery set in the Chianti
hills near Radda
San Fedele, our newest venue for workshops, is a painstakingly renovated monastery dating back to the 13th century. Today, the monastery remains true to its original style and rich architectural detail. The 15 rooms and suites where participants are housed, however, have lovely modern bathrooms, screened windows, air conditioning, period furniture, internet service, satellite television and frigobar, all designed to perfectly compliment the medieval surroundings.
The original soaring chapel is now used as a large art studio or workshop space. The monks' refectory, where a lost 16th century fresco was uncovered during renovation, is now the dining room connected to a state-of-the-art kitchen.
Click here to go to San Fedele's web site...
Monks'
refectory - dining room
The back of San Fedele is surrounded by a large al fresco dining terrace with the original terra cotta tile designs reproduced down to the smallest details. The terrace overlooks the same organic vegetable and flower garden tended by the monks for centuries. Beyond are the rolling Chianti vineyards that make this part of Tuscany so breathtaking.
Other common spaces include 2 large classrooms carved into the rock of the ancient wine cellar, a large private piazza, a new 16 x 7 meter swimming pool and sprawling landscaped grounds on a rolling hillside.
Piazza by night-photo by Bryce Denison
San
Fedele piazza
Classroom-photo
by Bryce Denison
Swimming
pool (16 x 7 meters)
Accommodations:
Il Chiostro at San Fedele is a unique meeting of a historic landmark and exquisite modern day comfort. Accommodations are spacious shared double rooms, junior suites or suites. Each room, because it was converted from the original structure of the monastery without altering the building, is unique in shape. Furnishings and decor were selected to coordinate with the historic, subdued feeling of the monastery, but in a comfortable, modern style. All rooms have two beds that can be separated into twins or combined into one large matrimonial. There is a sitting area, refrigerator, DSL connection, television, air-conditioning, heating, modern private bathroom with shower, heated towel racks and hair dryers. There are also a limited number of single rooms available.
Below are descriptions of each type of room available at San Fedele (photos by Bryce Denison):
Standard Double Room:
Junior Suites: A bit larger than the standard double with an ample sitting area and sofabed.
Suites: Larger still, some with jacuzzi tubs.
The Surrounding Area:
Il Chiostro at San Fedele sits conveniently on a country road connecting the charming medieval walled town of Radda and the village of Vagliagli. Other nearby hilltowns include Castellina-in-Chianti, Monteriggioni and Volpaia. It is about 40 minutes from San Gimignano and Volterra. Many of these towns have roots in the earlier Etruscan civilization that permeated this area prior to the Romans.
San Fedele is located about 12 km northeast of Siena and 45 km south of Florence.
The
village of Vagliagli, photo by Mary Westheimer
Florence on the Arno, photo by Michael Ferris
Campo in Siena, photo by Odette Veneziano
The medieval arches of Siena, photo by John Motondo